I've implemented my new timetable (more on that to come in a future blog post soon) to keep my evenings in check, I've set up a new budgeting system, and I've managed to fit in a lot of fun evenings and days out with my favourite chums.

I love spending time writing this blog post, but I know some people like to consume the content in smaller bitesized chunks. So that's what I did this week on Instagram. Keep an eye on my Stories if this is the kinda thing that floats your boat.

On with this week's faves:

This summer I've gone from being and feeling the most confident I've ever been, to nothing, and slowly my confidence is creeping back up again. When I read Liv's post On Writing Love Notes To Ourselves, it really struck a chord with me. She writes about how often when we look back, we realise that we were feeling good about ourselves, but then it's almost a bit too late. And that's how I feel like this year. At the start of this year I was quite literally #livingmybestlife and now I feel like I'm sat in a heap not knowing where I went wrong and what on earth happened. Yay? I guess I didn't appreciate the good times as much as I in hindsight should have.

But... that's kinda leading into what Liv talks about too. Why are we so cruel to ourselves? And I'm again sat here thinking, yeah, why am I being so cruel to myself. Everyone makes mistakes but we're only human and I shouldn't let that make me unhappy today. I'm thinking of taking Liv's post as an inspiration and literally might write a love letter to myself. I think it's needed.

Sometimes I think I should have a whole blog dedicated to friendship in your twenties because honestly, as a teen I thought any 'drama' or stuff like that would die down by now. But no. It's so difficult and so hard and friendships get everyone I know in a bit of a tizz from time to time. Yay. I think is why at the moment I am absolutely lapping up every post I stumble across talking about friendship, and Megan's 5 Things I've Learned About Friendship is no different. Megan talks about the changes that occur in friendships, how they fizzle out, and why these things happen. It was comforting to read and made me feel like at least my situation is felt by others too.

On a brighter note, perhaps, was the How to balance minimalism and a love affair with books post by The LifeStyle Files. As you might have seen last week, I've been reading a bit more lately, and I have this aching desire to either completely change my room. I want a space for books and this post makes me feel like I'll be able to create the space I desire without feeling cluttered and overloaded.

Boy's Don't Cry with Russel Kane - I'm always on the look out for new podcasts I might enjoy (not that I have enough time during the day to listen to them) and this one hosted by Russel Kane caught my eye. I first heard about it during the Love Island hype during the summer but didn't get around to listening until now. I'm a couple of episodes in and love it, I like the fact that it's addressing serious topics I don't think get enough attention whilst remaining light hearted and not too heavy. Have recommended it to my boyf, definitely one that can be enjoyed by all.

My anxiety has been through the roof for the last couple of weeks. Not constantly but it's been very up and down. I stumbled across these posts, it was almost like they knew I needed them, and it was great to read that people feel the same and understand where I'm coming from with things. I'll tell these posts to the talking:

I'm making a really concious effort at the moment to be as productive as possible in my free time. Yes, I want to sit and laze about for a bit scrolling through Reddit without a care in the world, but I also want to feel like I'm using my time well and making progress & improvements. Even if it's just tiny little things. I've been pushing myself to improve my budgeting, maintain my bullet journal (I find if things are literally spelled out on a list in front of me I'm more likely to do it), and just be savvy in general. These posts have given me such a motivational kick in the right direction.

I have been aching to write. I feel like there's been something building inside of me waiting to smash through the glass an be seen. I've been living in a little trapped cage recently pouring over ideas for blog, for my bullet journal, for my LIFE, and finally I feel ready to action them.

I'm back and it feels good.

Let's get into it...

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the last couple of months and these posts begin to scratch the surface of how I've been feeling. Adulting and growing up comes with a lot of growing pains. There's lots of decisions to be made, there's a lot of doubt, uncertainty, and worry. It can be hard to deal with and I think I'm coming out of a black hole I'd been falling into.

A post which really struck a chord with me, and definitely locks in on my uncertainty with ~life~ and if I'm making the right decision about anything at the moment, was Chloe Plumstead's post: Am I Having Enough Fun? Because I'm Worried I'm Not. Written excellently as usual, Chloe talks about refusing "to accept that going out on a Thursday night stops being a thing" - anyone who knows me knows that one of my favourite phrases this year has been "Thursday is the new Friday!". So gal, I can relate! And also this whole "chadult" thing. On the one hand I want to leap forward into the full grasps of adulthood, and be responsible and get a mortgage, have a better understanding of money and feel like I have my life together (although I don't think that ever happens), the other part of me wants to stay young, go on endless road trips, not worry about saving money and live in the now. Live by a YOLO attitude and not worry about how things will be in ten years, instead make sure I'm having the best bloody time I can now.

Easier said than done, I think.

On a different note, Lydia's post, What Happened When I Met With The A.S.A. caught my eye as although right now I'm a very small blogger, not working with brands or promoting ads on my socials, it is something I'm working towards and the collective fear I feel within the blogging community at how to 'do it right' and not get in trouble interests me. It's reassuring to find out that the A.S.A. are aware they haven't been very clear in the past and that these conversations with bloggers and influencers are taking place, to make it a better environment for everyone. That is what I want to hear and it only encourages me to keep working hard towards my blogging.

The other posts I'd like to feature in this section are all centred around the idea of looking out for yourself. Whether that be taking some time for yourself to make sure you're okay, and if you're not, taking time to just be in that headspace for a while and work through it. It's also a look a relationships, romantically and platonically. Something I've touched on in the past is how the ending of a friendship can often feel like the end of a relationship, and that's okay. It's hard but it is okay.

Last weekend I went to Dungeness with two of my bestest friends to celebrate one of their birthdays. I think in the past I've driven through Dungeness to get to another seaside location, but never actually stopped off there. Well let me tell you - it was bloody lovely! We went to a cute little chip shop/pub and had fab food, as well as a little meander on the beach at sunset. It was so flat and so empty and I just felt so free and content with everything. One of the highlights was actually the drive. We had about an hour and half drive and on the way back we essentially had an old school karaoke rave in my car. I cried happy tears.

This has given me a bit of an adventure bug. But then, when don't I have that, really? Anyway, I've been catching up with posts and found the following - all of which I now want to go and see with my own eyeballs!

Firstly, I've watched probably a few too many videos on YouTube than I'd like to admit of capsule hotel review in Japan and it's been on my bucket list for a while. Now I see that they've popped up in LONDON - WHERE I AM EVERY DAY? I have no choice but to drag a bestie with me and go experience this!

One thing you might not know is that back in July I actually went to Rome, I don't think I mentioned it AT ALL on social media which is quite unlike me, but it was a good time to unwind. It was only a short break and although I had excellent food on the last day, much of it was pretty lackluster (I think I was just unlucky), so when I read this post about mouthwatering pasta so close to me (and also pretty close to that capsule hotel) I though OMG I NEED TO GO ASAP! So yeah, if you meet me for lunch or dinner soon expect to have me make you queue for this so we can try it!

I think I might be a little bit of a fangirl of Vicky :') I've got a trip to Edinburgh planned in December and am SO EXCITED. I've been trying to go for the last couple of years and this time, the timing is right and everything is booked. Except transport. Need to get on that. I'm there for four days and will happily fill it with as many cocktails as I can, whilst ticking off the must see sights!

This month I have been ~living~ for Kate Nash's recent album, Yesterday Was Forever. I got it on vinyl and honestly it is so good and just so empowering. I feel like I am Kate Nash. She's my spirit animal. If you haven't listened to her new album yet, what have you been doing?

I was also inspired by Anna's post, Monday To Friday: Suggested Podcast Listening, and have pencilled in a podcast (or two) to listen to each week day. I love podcasts and listen to so many, and thanks to that sometimes actually get a bit overwhelmed. I'm hoping that my designating one to each day I'll be able to keep on top of them all.

I've just started reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. I know the general gist of the story from seeing the film many moons ago, but thought it was finally time to read it. Why, I hear you ask? Because I got a library card! Shocker! I've never had one before and only in the last couple of months or so found out that you can get eBooks and audiobooks from the library. Like, hello, why haven't I been doing this forever? So now I'm hoping that having that deadline of my book loan running out, I might read a bit more!

I've had a lot of personal ups and downs this summer and have really struggling with knowing how to deal with it. How to come to any conclusion about anything, how to know if I'm making the right decision, and how to process things. So this week, I went and bought and actual diary. I treated myself to a lovely soft cover notebook from Paperchase and have just been off loading there, dumping every thought, every question, every doubt, and every worry onto the pages. I already feel tonnes better and more like myself. So, I'd highly recommend that if you're stressed or worried about something, write it all down! Then it's off your shoulders and gives your brain a chance to think for a bit without the thoughts rushing around your head all the time. It's definitely offered me some relief.

That sums up this week's Pillow Talk post. At the moment I'm currently deciding whether I want to go forward with keeping this as a weekly (when life doesn't get in the way) post, or making it every other week. We'll see. It's felt so nice to be blogging again though. Have a wonderful bank holiday weekend.

I'm getting back on track when it comes to blogging and I've got so, so many posts/books/music I want to share with you!

In case you're new here, my Pillow Talk posts are a weekly (most of the time) round-up where I'll give a mini life update of what I've been up to that week, along with sharing wonderful content that I've been exploring. Whether it be blog posts, videos, podcasts, music, you name it, if I've enjoyed it I'll be mentioning it here!

Over the last few weeks, I've taken a real dislike to clutter. Although you might not believe it considering how many water bottles and receipts there are in my car, not forgetting the never-ending supply of clothes tags lying around my room, I'm trying to change. I'm desperately trying to simplify things and if I don't need it, or don't love it, to get rid of it! Part of this mindset came from this post on minimalism by Anthony Ongaro, who explains that sure, minimalism won't solve your problems, but it might help clear your mind a little! I also listened to this episode of The Debrief Podcast on How To Become A Tidy Person. It's old now but a) funny, and b) very helpful! More on podcasts later!

I'm a regular reader of Chloe's post, as you'll know if you're a long time reader, and every time she continues to smash it out of the park. One of her recent posts really stuck with me and got me thinking about my own perspective on read receipts. Should we keep read receipts on? I know that when I can't see if someone's read my message, it infuriates me - I hate the mystery and will actively choose to talk on a platform, Messenger I'm looking at you, that has read receipts enabled by default. However, then the obligation and guilt comes to haunt you. Read a message and forget to reply? The other person knows. And even worse, you could choose to read and not reply, sending a passive-aggressive signal to your texting buddy.

Ergh, I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it all and if I could truly give up the read receipt, but Chloe sums up the issue wonderfully.

I'm making a conscious effort at the moment to get out and explore London as much as possible at the moment. Whether it be after work or at the weekend. I recently read Erica's post on the Crossrail Place Roof Garden and it looks like just the place I'd like to hang out in! I think I may have passed through here last year on my way to Big Easy, but didn't stop and look around. I must go back soon!

I'm just going to come out and say it. I love Love Island. I'm addicted. I don't care if you think it's rubbish, it's an hour a day where I can forget everything and become totally swept up in the lives of 8 or so islanders. I've been loving Vix Meldrew's daily catch up posts, and of course the endless scrolling through memes after each show. Do you watch the show?

My lovely friend Pippa, who writes regularly on her blog Clashing Time currently co-hosts a podcast called The Prosecco Sessions, and this week I got a cheeky lil mention on the show! I'd highly recommend this podcast, it's like listening to your best friends having a good old natter over a glass of bubbly. Don't be fooled though, the girls cover some serious topics we all face in the land of adulthood. Not one to be missed!

As I mentioned earlier, I am a little bit (very much so) addicted to old episodes of The Debrief Podcast. Yep, I was totally living under a rock seemingly last year when the show kicked off, and now it's stopped! RIP The Debrief. The Debrief Podcast is hosted by Tessa Coates and Stevie Martin, who I both adore and will proudly admit they make me laugh every time I listen. I'm listening to the entire archives before I let myself listen to their new adventure, Nobody Panic. The show looks at a different topic each week, centered around learning how to be an adult and live better. It's certainly helped me get my groove on!

I've finally picked up again, and what better way to get back into reading than with Emma Gannon's latest book, The Multi-Hyphen Method. I'm around halfway through this book (likely much further by the time you read this) and am loving it! The whole idea of being at work and having to do the 9-5 thing seems so old-fashioned. I want greater work flexibility and I think we should all strive for that! Emma discusses how and why this should be the way forward in the workplace. It's also been great reading a real-life physical book on my train home every day. Even if it's just for ten minutes or so, that's ten minutes of quality not-looking-at-my-phone time.

Guess where I've been going to? The gym, that's right! After being unable to hold down a regular routine in what feels like months and months and months (and honestly I think it was November when I last went 'regularly') I've finally got it together and started going at least twice a week again. My aim is three times, but if I only manage twice, I think that's pretty good going. I'm planning on using Love Island as a reward. I go to the gym, I can watch Love Island. I don't, I have to wait.

And finally, last week I went to see James Veitch at Angel Comedy Club with a few of my friends. I've seen James' a few times now and every time he just gets funnier! My cheeks hurt for a long time afterward and I'm pretty sure I've got abs on the way after laughing so much. I even got to have a quick chat and photo with James after the show! Much fun was had!